October 16

QAWEM (resist in Arabic) a new movement by Mohamed El Hadidy, a third generation Muslim Brotherhood member and supporter of Aboul Fotouh (former Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate in 2012), attempts to offer solutions for Egypt’s stalemate.

“Dr. Abdel Moniem Aboul Fotouh, once a prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood, former presidential candidate, and head of the Strong Egypt Party, spoke with Cornelis Hulsman, editor of Arab-West Report, in an interview for MEI regarding his break from the Brotherhood, Morsi’s ouster, and what he sees as necessary for Egypt’s future.”

betsy hiel (@betsy_hiel) tweeted at 2:12 PM on Wed, Oct 16, 2013: Very interesting @arabist podcast that looks at the Sinai, the media and the constitution in #Egypt - listen in!http://t.co/qBxKUAtIdW

In an interview conducted by state-owned daily Al-Ahram newspaper, Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy says that current Egypt-US tension will reflect on the whole region and impact US interests, adding that Egypt’s "forthcoming success," will also influence the area.

Zack Gold (@ZLGold) tweeted at 1:01 PM on Wed, Oct 16, 2013: #Egypt: "the army is planning to diversify its source of weapons," incl possibly from Russia http://t.co/LWaGXlawZ8ht @hany2m

Gabriele Del Grande writes “Back to the sea” and discusses the Libyan and Egyptian smuggling networks to Europe:

“The numbers tell the story. Since the beginning of the year until September 30, 30,100 people arrived in Italy via the Mediterranean, of whom 3,000 are Somalis, 7,500 Eritreans (nothing new so far) — and, above all, 7,500 Syrians, according to the UN. We can see that the Syrian disaster is the main flywheel for new smuggling routes toward Europe.”

ahramonline: “Egypt’s Justice Ministry to draft anti-terrorism law - With penalties possibly reaching to execution: the suggestions for the legislation stipulate it should not be used as an oppressive tool”:

“According to the report, suggestions for the new legislation include tight prison sentences for acts of aggression, sabotage and attacks committed against state institutions, public transport, museums, schools, hospitals, private property, police stations and checkpoints.”

Egypt’s interim government is keen on implementing a “protest law”. The law would give the interior minister and senior police officials the authority to cancel, postpone or change locations of protests. A written appeal would have to be handed in 24 hours prior to the protest outlining the location, purpose, names of organizers, the demands and start and end times – which would have to be “approved”. Protests would be banned in certain areas such as the surrounding areas of state buildings, presidential palace, etc…

“Since the foundation of the first republic in 1952, Egypt’s rulers, regardless of name or political orientation, have struggled to distance the Egyptian people from politics and strip its individuals from the ability to act independently from the state. To ensure its success, the state nationalized the public and political spheres, seeing to it that they are managed and controlled exclusively by the state’s coercive apparatuses. The individual right to express oneself through protest, marches, public conventions, and even the media, was limited. Nowhere has this been more evident in Egypt’s recent history than with the laws governing the right to assembly. Repressive laws continue to stifle the right to protest, while government after government praises the street movement that brought it to the helm of power. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawy's cabinet joined these ranks, passing a highly repressive protest law, which is currently under review by the interim president.”

ahramonline: Amr Moussa, head of the 50-member constitution committee, says the charter is not being written to protect specific individuals. This comes after a tape emerges of what is claimed to be the army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah El Sisi asking for protected status.

Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) tweeted at 2:36 PM on Wed, Oct 16, 2013: It may be a revelation to some, but it is people that manufacture dictatorship, and not dictators who enforce themselves! #Egypt

Naira Antoun writes about the continuation of military trials for civilians, over which the 50-member committee responsible for drafting Egypt’s new constitution is divided; in “In search of fair trial”:

“And this has always been the case, from SCAF’s rule after Mubarak, to the Brotherhood rule, to the return of military stewardship over the past three months; the defendants are often activists around certain causes or ordinary citizens… Indeed it was under Morsi’s presidency that the residents of Qursaya Island, which the military claims it owns, faced military trials in a case that went viral and was often cited as a face of military control of civilian life and resources.

In this same year, the more banal case of a minor — Mahdy’s client — took place. The minor was arrested at a demonstration outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Cairo and was sentenced to six months in prison following a hearing that lasted just a few minutes and in which Mahdy was not allowed to speak. His client was being tried because he had answered an officer who had criticized his unconventional hairstyle with, “It’s better than being bald like you.”

Jared Malsin asks “Whose sea?” and discusses how Gaza’s fishermen are losing their last refuge of water in Egypt:

“They are truly fishermen. They are not involved in politics, neither Hamas nor Fatah, or any organization,” says Jamal Basala, the father of Khaled and Ismail Basala and a fisherman himself. “Two of them were just young kids, 16 and 17 years old.”

“It is a sad reality to live in a country ruled by old men and suffered by its youth, where battles always end with more names added to the walls of martyrs; names that will no longer be remembered as the history books reflect the latest agenda of the latest regime: every regime supported the revolution, yet there was no revolution, not one bullet was shot, no one died, there were no youth, everything you witnessed never happened.

Cairo’s graffiti gives me sporadic bursts of hope because it functions as the memory of the revolution, proving that such things did happen, people did once feel pride and hope in this country, and yes, killing people is wrong.

As Tahrir’s most prolific graffiti artist Hosny once wrote: They are killing our Future.”

The 19 hardcore football fans “Ultras Ahlawy”, arrested on October 13, are released on bail. This comes after numerous demonstrations and peaceful protests in solidarity with those detained took place.

“The Tahrir Trends data, extrapolated into the new hyper-nationalistic environment, suggest a strong reliance on the cult of personality that has defined Egypt’s electoral politics over the last three years. As Morsi quickly fell out of public favor, so did the Muslim Brotherhood, only to be replaced with renewed faith in the army and security services, which are maximizing the opportunity to reclaim their lost status after January 25. Liberals who once touted political plurality and openness appear to have either sacrificed those values at the altar of nationalist sentiment, or left the political scene altogether—as in the case of Mohamed El-Baradei and former National Salvation Front spokesperson Khaled Dawoud…Their constituents still need bread, freedom, and human dignity. Anything less is inherently unstable: as we’ve seen, Egyptians can change their minds pretty quickly.”

ahramonline: Amnesty International calls on Egypt to end its 'appalling policy' of arresting and deporting Syrian refugees who fled armed conflict. And the Foreign Ministry responds saying “there is an official policy to deport Syrian refugees from Egypt.”

"At least we're number one at something, even if it's from the bottom," quipped one of my friends in Cairo. We had just finished reading the recently issued World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014, which rates Egypt as the worst country in the world in the quality of primary education. The report is based on the WEF's Global Competitiveness Indicator, an aggregate of 114 indicators grouped under 12 categories of "drivers of productivity and prosperity," including institutions, financial markets, technological readiness, and health and education, among others… This is a freedom that Egyptians are not likely to gain any time soon. Improvements in happiness, just as in competitiveness, will have to wait.”

Leader of Al Gamaa Al Islameya, Aboud El Zomor, claims that the deadlock between the Muslim Brotherhood and the army will be resolved after the feast holidays.

Jano Charbel writes about Cairo’s graffiti and how it mirrors a political tug of war in “CC on the walls”.

“Repetitiveness is often boring, and that’s exactly what I will be doing in this article. Some ideas are worth being analyzed, discussed and even “talked about over and over again,” especially if they are about the future of the country and those living in it.”

October 19

ahramonline: The Egyptian Administrative Court postpones the case against Google for keeping the anti-Islam film 'Innocence of Islam' available on YouTube until 2 November.

Mohamed Ali Bishr, a Muslim Brotherhood figure, announces that the terms and conditions put forth to mediate talks between the Muslim Brotherhood and the interim government are biased in favor of the government.

The case demanding the dissolution of parties formed in religious grounds, the Freedom & Justice Party of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist Al Nour Party, is postponed.

“The actions of the civil political elite in Egypt have not ceased to amaze since the 3 July coup. Events over the past months have proven that their actions are not based on any moral or value-based system but more an expression of political opportunism and a desire to get rid of Islamists, even if the price is to create a military dictatorship.

This is obviously apparent in the exclusionary rhetoric of many key figures of this elite, that primarily focuses on excluding Islamists and isolating them from society and politics. They also eagerly support and promote Minister of Defence Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as a presidential candidate — a paradox that history will ponder at length.”

The Ultras Ahlawy, hardcore football fans, stage large demonstrations demanding the release of 25 members arrested during clashes at Cairo airport on October 13 and charged with attempted murder and assault on security forces.

According to ministry spokesman, Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Ambassador Mohammed Abu Bakr is in "intense contacts with Libyan authorities and several local chieftains to secure the release of Egyptian drivers kidnapped by armed men" in the eastern city of Ajdabiya - Libya.

“Stabilising Sinai could serve Washington’s interests, but the security or military option to secure Sinai will never succeed in serving Egyptian interests. El-Sisi offered assurances that “The Armed Forces will never allow any threats against Sinai, and its sons are ready to sacrifice their lives in order for Sinai to remain part of Egypt and never depart from it.” Yes, sacrificing their lives for Sinai is a noble cause, but it will not change the painful and frightening reality of the Sinai Peninsula, which should begin by giving the people of Sinai their rights on their land and the land of their forefathers.

There is no alternative to a “strategy to populate Sinai” and no other way than to move millions of Egyptians – who overcrowd our cities and villages with random housing, work and life – into Sinai if we want to secure Sinai. This would not be for the purpose of serving US interests but in order for Sinai to remain Egyptian.”

ahramonline: Interim Prime Minister, Hazem El Beblawi, says there are indications that Egypt is "on the right track," asserting that improvements are evident in terms of security, politics, and economy.

“There is no place in our political world for late learners and our constitution should reflect this reality. Let’s not be stubborn enough to make Egypt ungovernable, let’s not be short-sighted enough to deem our state irrelevant.”

Former Prime Minister, Atef Ebeid, and former Interior Minister, Ahmed Gamal El-Din, and current Petroleum Minister, Sherif Ismail are to testify in the retrial of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, his two sons, Gamal and Alaa, and his interior minister Habib El-Adly. The three sessions are not going to be aired publicly for “security reasons”.

The court adjourns a case against Hosni Mubarak's two sons and his last prime minister, Ahmed Shafik, on charges of squandering public funds and facilitating the illegal sale of state land to October 24.

Associated Press: Egyptian doctor Mohamed Helmy was honoured last month by Israel's Holocaust memorial for hiding Jews in Berlin during the Nazi genocide. However, a family member tracked down by the Associated Press (AP) this week in Cairo said her relatives wouldn't accept the award, one of Israel's most prestigious.

Egyptian drivers held in Libya are to be released after talks with tribes.

Basil الضبع ‏@basildabh 2:39 PM - 21 Oct 13: A reminder to those blaming the church’s July 3 position for sectarian attacks: similar things happened under Morsi, SCAF, Mubarak, Sadat…

Mina Fayek ‏@minafayek 11:10 PM - 21 Oct 13: Warraq Church officials said they had received threats before the shooting and had informed the police to no avail. http://reut.rs/1fQu76o

Mina Fayek (@minafayek) tweeted at 1:07 AM on Mon, Oct 21, 2013: So MB NOW quote Copts criticizing state for not protecting churches, aren't they the very same Copts who conspired against Morsi & Islam?!

“Local residents say the area has seen virtually no security presence after police raided two major Cairo protest camps set up by loyalists of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, leaving hundreds dead and setting off days of deadly street showdowns…. Eyewitnesses noted that police and ambulances on Sunday arrived almost two hours after their numerous distress calls.

The Imbaba police station, a few miles away from the church, was razed to the ground in the immediate aftermath of the deadly crackdown on Morsi's supporters.”

Ansar Beit Al Maqdis claim responsibility for blast at army intelligence building in Ismailiya on October 19. They had claimed responsibility for the attack on the Minister of Interior last month and advise the “people of Egypt to avoid army and police buildings.”

The third closed session in Mubarak’s retrial is to take place today. Former Major-General of the armed forces, Hassan El-Roweiny, is to testify as well as Omar El Dardiry, the head of the investigation unit at Minya prison during the 18 days in January 2011. Both Hosni Mubarak and his PM Habib El Adly received life sentences in June 2012 for the killing of peaceful protestors. The trial is postponed to November 16, 17, 18 as the 2012 verdicts are overturned due to procedural improperties.

“As with many things, the problems with Egypt do not come down to not knowing the correct solutions – but having the political will to apply them. It is not that Egyptians are incapable of doing better on these issues – that’s preposterous and denies history. It is that the leadership they have permitted to rule over them has consistently, and constantly, failed them. Until that is resolved, Sunday’s tragedy will not only go unpunished, but is likely to be repeated, again and again. All the crosses encased in crescents, with all the signs declaring “Egyptian Christians and Muslims are one”, will do nothing to obviate that fact.”

hebamorayef (@hebamorayef) tweeted at 4:03 PM on Tue, Oct 22, 2013: Referral of 4 police to trial for killing of 36 detainees in Abu Zaabal truck incident is the first hint of any accountability since 30/6

An opinion poll by the Egyptian Centre for Public Opinion Research (Baseera) shows that 37% of Egyptians say that the performance of the country’s interim leaders is “good” while half say it is “average” and 13-14% believe it’s “poor”.

Egypt’s Jon Stewart equivalent, political satirist Bassem Youssef, believes supporters of army chief Abdel Fattah El Sisi may file legal complaints against him when his show comes back on air. He also added that fear of censorship will not stop him from political critique.

“Bubbles burst from overexposure, popularity is a two way street that is contingent upon consistency and quality, and personality cults are too twentieth century to survive in our day and age, especially Messianic ones, because the age of miracles is over. The only constant in our day and age is disillusionment. Remember Obama mania and how long it took for the shine to wear off? Exactly. However, the military critics shouldn’t bring out the champagne just yet, for the popularity of Al-Sisi may come and go, but in a weird way, it will never affect the popularity of the armed forces. Some popularities are more entrenched than others."

October 23

Hatem Khater, the head of Egypt's state NGO federation, is detained for 15 days while investigations into allegations of inciting violence and belonging to an outlawed group –the Muslim Brotherhood – are to take place.

“While it is true the so-called Islamist Right has many followers, most of them are misguided, and many who participated in their non-peaceful and criminal activities are hired mercenaries. Other followers were misled and made mistakes, but did not commit crimes. Perhaps they are still living under illusions and delusions such as “Morsi will be back, God willing” and “6 October is the last day” – even though many days have passed since without their delusions coming true. As for those who were paid to participate in their demonstrations, they are also sick and need to be cured. Thus, the transitional ministries of health and justice should prepare to administer an effective cure to them all, and the entire cabinet should prepare to economically rehabilitate anyone who needs it.”

Essam Derbala, a senior member of Al Gamaa Al Islamiya's political wing, says that his group has been devoted to peaceful participation and protest since the late 1990s and that there is no basis for concern that they will resort to violence.

Salah Abdel Maqsoud, Information Minister under Morsi, is referred to criminal court and accused of the involvement of theft of public property during the pro-Morsi Rabaa Al-Adawiya sit-in.

“The decision is not serious - because, if it were, the United States would have done much more than cancel war games and a four-year-old order of tanks. The United States merely wants to be seen as doing "something" to sanction the military-led Egyptian government, which clearly isn't concerned with its already shaky international standing, and continues to wantonly kill its own citizens without a second thought (including on the national holiday a few days prior to the U.S. decision). And even as the State Department spokesperson was searching for the most diplomatically appropriate way to say, "We are really mad at you," Secretary of State Kerry was making reassuring remarks to Cairo, emphasizing the United States' "commitment to the success of this government," and that the aid suspension wasn't "a withdrawal from the countries' relationship." That doesn't make for a very convincing message.”

A new political movement, the National Partnership Current, is launched. They aim to bring the advocates of January 2011 and June 2013 together.

“If you were looking for truthful, objective and balanced coverage of the profoundly complex, intensely polarised Egyptian scene after the 30 June uprising, you had to look outside the mainstream media–at home or abroad”

The verdict in the corruption case against Mubarak’s last PM Ahmed Shafik and his sons Alaa and Gamal will be announced on December 19. Shafik is being tried for facilitating the sale of 40,000 sqm. of land owned by the Association of Pilot Officers to Gamal and Alaa Mubarak at a lower than market price.

“That the US decided to continue providing equipment and parts needed to keep Egypt’s jets and helicopters operational only illustrates a clear intent to avoid undermining Egypt’s ability to cooperate with Israel on security matters. Only when this cooperation is no longer in Egypt’s interests to maintain, the US may seriously consider the possibility of a complete cut to aid.

Until then, a policy of not taking sides reinforced by a continued process of recalibrating ties is the only position the Obama administration can take which minimises its inflammatory presence in Egypt’s domestic affairs whilst preserving the national interests of both nations.”

A Muslim Brotherhood-led coalition is to hold a week of protests dubbed 'Suez resilience, our way to Jerusalem' beginning on October 25 to condemn what they describe as "the bloody military coup" against Mohamed Morsi.

“When the Brotherhood was able to crawl back from the shadows to participate publicly in politics and society at large, reformists inside the group found that the conservative leadership had little interest in engaging with others. While reformists attempted to cooperate with other social forces in professional associations and civil society, the conservatives focused on bringing the base closer to their own conceptions of Islam, which were traditional but never truly defined. At times, Wickham writes, the conservative wing simply “clung to the traditional conception of the Brotherhood’s mission as an expression of Islam itself,” rather than articulating what Islam was to them.”

The Muslim Brotherhood repeat their denial of any involvement in the recent Al Warraq church attack that left five dead. The Archbishop of the church suggested that three Brotherhood members were injured in the incident.

The 'No to Military Trials' Movement says the army is attempting to keep the mandate to subject civilians to military tribunals in the amended constitution.

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